Lecturer- (2360) at University of Western Cape

Role Clarification & Key Performance Areas

• The Department of Social Service Professions, seated in the Community and Health Sciences Faculty, is committed to excellence in education, practice and research. Currently, the department offers degree programmes for two Social Service Professions (Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978 as amended in 1998), namely the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and the Bachelor of Community Development (BCD).
• Both professions are practice-based and academic disciplines requiring interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and work (International Federation of Social Work & International Association of Schools of Social Work, 2014). As such the BSW and BCD programmes work closely together. 
• The department has a vacant lecturer position in the BSW degree programme. The social work profession values indigenous theories and knowledge, and is therefore context-specific – embracing a bottom-up approach. The mandate of social work is to engage individuals, groups and communities in their natural environment, including those systems, legislation and policies that impact wellbeing.
• An important feature of the profession is that value is placed on working with rather for people through empowerment to increase hope, self-esteem, and the ability to challenge and address oppression and structural sources of injustices. The work within the department is guided by principles of respect for the inherent worth and dignity of human beings, doing no harm, respect for diversity and upholding human rights and social justice.
• The successful candidate will be expected to join the programme on 1 January 2027. 

The successful candidate will have the following key performance areas and responsibilities:

• Facilitate excellent learning and teaching through lecturing a combination of lectures, seminar courses and workshops, and following a student-centred approach to learning and teaching
• Facilitate and coordinate fieldwork
• Supervise postgraduate students.
• Portray a commitment to high-quality research.  
• Engage in academic administration and leadership (i.e., module and programme specific administration and representation of the Department on committees).
• Engage in the scholarship of social work and contribute to social work practice through publications, presentations, research and community engagement activities. 

Minimum Requirements

• A Master’s degree in social work (MSW), with active enrolment in a PhD programme
• Experience in teaching at undergraduate level
• Experience in research supervision on the fourth year-level (Honours)
• A minimum of 1 peer-reviewed or accredited publication
• Evidence of ongoing research
• Five years’ experience in the practice of social work
• Proof of registration at the South African Council for Social Service Professions
• Experience in academic administration
• Evidence of early-stage engagement in academic or professional networks 

Added advantages

• Experience in fieldwork placements and/or supervision
• Experience in modern e-learning technologies
• Computer literacy (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, online platforms: Google Meet, Teams, Zoom, etc.)

Required Competencies: 

• Client / student service and support 
• Building interpersonal relationships
• Teamwork / collaboration
• Conceptual and analytical thinking
• Problem solving 
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication 
• Planning and organising / work management 
• University awareness

Closing Date

• 23/10/2026